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Vesperae solennes de Dominica, K321

Introduction

Alongside the regular celebration of the Eucharist, the other service which required large-scale musical input was the Office of Vespers, consisting of five Psalms and the ‘Magnificat’. Mozart wrote two complete settings for Vespers (although he never set the opening Response nor the Antiphons which are used to frame the Psalms and Canticle). The Vesperae solennes de Dominica (K321) or ‘Sunday Vespers’ could be used on many of the Sundays throughout the year, unless a particular feast day or season required the use of a different set of texts. Scored for four soloists and chorus, Mozart once again uses trombones to double the lower chorus parts. The strings (without violas) play throughout but trumpets and timpani are added to the first Psalm and the ‘Magnificat’ for extra solemnity.

‘Dixit Dominus’ is grand and imposing, complete with dogmatic statements from both choir and instruments, whilst the second Psalm, ‘Confitebor tibi’, is a serious-sounding movement in E minor with the chorus replying to the soprano soloist. The next three Psalms display radically different styles. ‘Beatus vir’ is more brilliant and more operatic in its writing whilst the fourth Psalm ‘Laudate pueri’ is the complete opposite; a ‘stile antico’ canon, with an alla breve swing and without the use of soloists. Also in juxtaposition is the graceful and operatic ‘Laudate Dominum’ for soprano solo and organ obbligato, the perfect change of style before the dramatic coup of the ‘Magnificat’ which begins with a slow, solemn introduction before launching into a vigorous allegro.

It is almost as if Mozart is demonstrating the whole range of his musical genius here with radically different styles for each movement. All of these composed elements of Vespers would originally have been separated by Antiphons, sung to plainchant, and it is clear from the choice of keys—C major, E minor, B flat major, F major, A major and C major respectively—that the Antiphons would provide a musical link between the Psalms. However Mozart once again shows his dramatic genius and his clear sense of narrative. These individual Psalm movements are so ordered that there is a real dramatic progression, a musical journey which goes through a variety of regions before culminating in an almost symphonic setting of the ‘Magnificat’. It was this deep understanding of drama, this ability to lead with a clear sense of the effect that his music would have on the listener which allowed Mozart to write great opera and this, his great gift, is clearly seen first in his music for the church.

Recordings

The world-famous St Paul’s Cathedral Choir and director of music Andrew Carwood are joined by orchestra and a quartet of distinguished soloists in sparkling Mozart performances. These works are suffused with a typically unerring sense of dramatic ...» More

'What more could you want in these works than a soloist who places every note with joyous precision, moves from one to another so cleanly, and demonst ...'Robert King and his choral and orchestral forces give clean and direct performances in sound that is nicely balanced and benefits from the mellow aco ...» More

The Lord said unto my Lord:
sit thou at my right hand.
Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Sion:
rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power,
in the beauties of holiness:
from the womb of the morning thou hast the dew of thy youth.
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent:
thou art a priest for ever
after the order of Melchizedek.
The Lord at thy right hand
shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
He shall judge among the heathen,
he shall fill the places with ruins:
he shall wound the heads over many countries.
He shall drink of the brook in the way:
therefore shall he lift up the head.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

I will praise you, Lord, with my whole heart:
in the council of the righteous and in the assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord:
they are studied by all who delight in them.
Merciful and wondrous is his work:
and his justice will remain for ever and ever.
He has instilled remembrance of his wonders,
who is merciful and compassionate and just:
he has given food to those who fear him.
He will be mindful for ever of his pledge:
he will proclaim the virtue of his acts to his people:
that he might give them the inheritance of the peoples:
the works of his hands are truth and justice.
All of his promises are ordained:
confirmed for ever and ever:
established in truth and equity.
The Lord has sent redemption for his people:
he has ordained for ever his pledge.
Holy and fearsome is his name:
the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord.
Wise is the man who does all he asks:
praise of him will remain for ever and ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord:
that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
His seed shall be mighty upon earth:
the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house:
and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness:
who is merciful and compassionate and just.
A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth;
he will guide his affairs with discretion:
surely he shall not be moved for ever.
The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance:
he shall not be afraid of evil tidings.
His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord,
he shall not be afraid
until he see his desire upon his enemies.
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor:
his righteousness endureth for ever:
his horn will be exalted in glory.
The wicked shall see it and be grieved,
he shall gnash with his teeth and waste away:
the desire of the wicked shall perish.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

Praise the Lord, ye servants:
O praise the name of the Lord.
Blessed be the name of the Lord:
from this time forth for evermore.
The Lord’s name is praised: from the rising
up of the sun unto the going down of the same.
The Lord is high above all heathen
and his glory above the heavens.
Who is like unto the Lord our God,
that has his dwelling so high: and yet humbles
himself to behold the things in heaven and earth?
He takes up the destitute out of the dust:
and lifts the poor out of the mire:
that he may set him with princes,
even with the princes of his people.
He maketh the barren woman to keep house,
and to be a joyful mother of children.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.

During 1779 and 1780 Mozart composed two settings of the Vespers for Salzburg Cathedral. The central part of the Vespers service is the singing of the psalms and antiphons appropriate for the particular feast being celebrated. Mozart’s first setting was the Vesperae solennes de Domenica—literally ‘Sunday Vespers’— and the second the Vesperae solennes de Confessore. This latter title was not Mozart’s own, but indicates that the work was intended for a major Church Feast of a Confessor of the Church. The titling ‘solennes’ simply means that the work has an orchestral accompaniment. The two settings of Laudate Dominum could hardly be more different. In the Vesperae solennes de Domenica, K321, God is praised in lyrically operatic style, the soprano soloist lightly accompanied by violins and a solo organ in a style reminiscent of the Epistle Sonatas, and joyfully celebrating the feast in pearls of coloratura.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.
And my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
For he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his handmaiden:
behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty has done wondrous things for me:
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is upon them
that fear him throughout all generations.
He has shown the power of his arm:
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has put down the mighty from their seat,
and has exalted the humble and meek.
He has filled the hungry with good things:
and the rich he has sent empty away.
He has sustained his servant Israel,
in rememberance of his mercy.
As he promised to our forefathers,
Abraham and his sons for ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.